NEW DELHI: In its bid to prevent the BJP from returning to power in any of the four northern States after the current round of Assembly elections, the CPI (M) will consider joining hands with the Janata Dal and the CPI to support the Congress to form a government wherever there is a hung Assembly.

The CPI (M)’s support would be conditional to the Congress Government at the Center, changing its economic policies and taking a firm stand against communal forces, party sources here said. The CPI (M)’s decision was taken at its Central Committee meeting in Bangalore in August.

The sources reiterated that the Central Committee had also decided to convey the message to party cadres and sympathizers to vote for the Congress wherever it would be involved in a straight contest with the BJP.

The recent statements by West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu in Shimal are in line with the tactics adopted by the Central Committee and are in no way off-the-cuff remarks by the Chief Minister, a Central Committee member said.

Basu was reported to have said in response to a question about the CPI (M) supporting a Congress bid to form a Government that his party would consider the matter.

Party General Secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet, said that his party’s “main consideration would be on the changes the Congress was prepared to make on the economic policies and its compromise with communal forces.”

He added that his party would do its best to “prevent the BJP from coming to power” in the states where elections are being held. Presenting his party’s assessment of the poll prospects, Surjeet said that “the BJP has no chance of coming back to power” in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Stating that he had toured these States extensively, the CPI (M) veteran said the BJP’s situation was “pitiable” and that its campaign had failed to evoke much response from the people, who have focused their attention on issues of development, employment and economic conditions.

In UP, the CPI (M)’s assessment is that though the BJP is poised to emerge with the largest number of seats, it was not in a position to secure a majority. According to the CPI (M)’s assessment, the minorities would vote for the party which had the best chance of defeating the BJP in the respective constituencies in Uttar Pradesh.

Article extracted from this publication >>  November 19, 1993